Now, onto something different.
The Honor Code.
So, Captain Midnight just posted about a friend he knew who worked for the Honor Code Office at BYU in Provo. This friend happened to be gay, but the HCO did not know about his crazy homosexual ways. They asked him to sign up for a fake account on Connexion. He was instructed to search for and destroy (report) gay Mormon boys to the Honor Code Office. I don't know if he followed through with their evil plans or not.
However, I am appalled. My respect for BYU and frankly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been knocked down a few notches. My testimony has not been shaken, but my faith in the institution of the Church and BYU has. I want to believe that it's not possible. I want to have respect for the Honor Code Office. I want to feel safe and secure in my warm covers and not have to deal with the possibilty, or rather,reality that this is true.
Now, I have only been at BYU for 2 years. I haven't had a run in with the HCO. Ever. My current bishop right now knows that I am gay and to the best of my knowledge hasn't turned me in. I haven't had a negative experience. That being said, I want to know:
Have you? Has anyone you know had a crazy run in with them? Should I be worried and totally rely on anonymity from here on out?
I want to believe that the HCO is there for those horny kids who can't keep their pants on. But, a nagging voice is telling me, that's not true...
Hmmm. Interesting. You know, even the "horny kids that can't keep it in their pants" don't always get sent to the HCO by their bishops.
ReplyDeleteI think what the HCO did with Connexion is just downright over the top. I honestly don't know, but I doubt that the President of BYU was the one who made the order. I wonder if it was even run by him for approval.
Anyway, I can see you losing respect for the HCO, and possibly BYU, but I don't see a reason to blame the church.
It wouldn't surprise me, based on the history of the honor code office. It is well documented that back in the day they used to have undercover students to try and find communist teachers and students at BYU. I can see them doing the same thing to find gays.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a reason to blame the church either.
ReplyDeleteI think if this was done, it was to get the "horny kids that can't keep it in their pants".
I mean, I was talking with Aaron about it (the Honor Code and homosexuals, not horny kids) the other day and I think that you, Andy, are technically breaking the honor code. If I couldn't live in a co-ed dorm with Geoff, I don't think that you should be allowed to live with other guys. I mean, you have lived with other homosexuals. Nothing happened but still?
Where else would you live though? I know. It is a flawed system. I am cool with you living where you are...I was just thinking about how crazy the Honor Code is.
I guess what I am saying is, maybe they just wanted him to be looking for people who were having butt sex and thinking it was okay, or going out to gay bars and getting smashed. You can't say that you haven't seen it happen.
But bishops, I am sure, would be told by BYU if they were on the war path for homosexuals so that they could turn them in once they confessed! (I don't personally think that feelings of being attracted to another man needs to be confessed...but whatever.) And you would be watched. As long as you don't molester (hehe)(the "hehe" was because I spelled it that way because of how I said it in my head) your room mates you should be fine.
And I agree with boskers, there is no reason to blame the whole Church.
I'm not sure if what the kid told me was the truth, but I wouldn't doubt it. Having had experience with the honor code office myself, I have no respect for their methods of operation. I don't think you're doing anything that would get you in too deep of trouble with them, but you can't be too careful. Things that aren't stated as wrong in the official honor code statement can be labeled as wrong by the counselor who calls you in, so if they want you to get in trouble, they will find a way to do it.
ReplyDeleteI used to work for the BYU housing department, almost all the way through my time at BYU, and from what I saw with the Honor Code office, this rumor is probably true.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that this story isn't true, but it very well may be. But I DON'T believe that this would have been done on President Samuelson's orders (or anyone else "higher up").
ReplyDeleteThe honor code is such a joke, honestly. I know it is there for a reason, but it makes imperfect people feel rejected and unloved. I am glad that I went to BYU where so many other people have high standards and good morals. Especially now that my husband goes to a law school full of the most immoral people you have ever met - I feel blessed that I DID live in a bubble for a few years. It is a good thing to experience, though it shouldn't last forever. My testimony was bolstered by the good influences at BYU, and I am thankful for that.
But I do not like the way that the honor code is enforced. Often it comes off as "rules that you are not allowed to break" rather than "standards to live by."
James had a thrift store t-shirt for a girls' softball team. The shirt was pink, and it said something like "powderpuff softball" or something on it. Some anonymous anal-retentive @$$hole (or someone playing a prank) reported it to the honor code office and he was called in, and asked to not wear it on campus again, since him wearing it did not portray the image of a good male BYU student. No joke.
btw, Andy, I'm really enjoying this blog of yours. Your writing is thought-provoking and lol-entertaining. Congrats on the new job, good luck w/ the UofU and keep praying. xoxoxo
This is a *huge* topic with me. I'll try not to rant and I'll *try* to keep it short.
ReplyDeleteSo I know from a reliable source that the gay social group I run has had "spies" from the Honor Code Office become members to keep track of it. Funny enough, I was told they like it. So there is no reason to doubt that the HCO has probably multiple gay.com, connexion, and any other gay social site profiles. It isn't something most gay people should fear. Connexion is not primarily used for hookups anyway.
Next topic: Bishops are asked to report serious Honor Code violations to BYU. Some do and some don't. So if you want complete confidentiality, I would ask your Bishop about it. Be upfront and honest with him. I believe it's a breach of confidentiality for him to share. However, the HCO has never had a problem with that and not just concerning gays. When you sign the Honor Code pamphlet, you're actually just signing "selections of the Honor Code." The whole code is actually a thick book. You are held responsible for all of those regulations even though you don't have access to them.
Next topic: There is an easy way for you to understand the purpose of the HCO and really why BYU does many of the things it does. BYU's number one concern is image. It needs to portray the image of an upright, moral and safe place for its students. Otherwise LDS parents wouldn't send them there. BYU will do whatever it takes to maintain that image. That's why there is the HCO. That's why they didn't allow the maker of the "Men on a Mission" calendar graduate. That's why they keep tabs on gay people. If self-righteous parents heard that BYU wasn't subduing these threats, they would be outraged. So understanding the image they have to enforce allows you to understand most of their actions.
That brings me to my last point. If you ever get in trouble with the Honor Code Office, I have a piece of advice. Make noise. BYU will punish those people who will take it quietly. They're able to hide you and keep their untainted image. When you get loud and talk to people about the injustice, BYU gets very uncomfortable. Hence why the HCO is so law with the athletes. They already have a media outlet. If they speak people listen. The people who write to the newspaper, and blog and don't go quietly are the one's the HCO will leave alone.
Okay, one last point: I think this one is really important. BYU is *not* the Church. Say it out loud. BYU makes laws around laws around laws. BYU requires higher standards than it takes to enter the Temple. You can enter the temple with a beard. lol Yes, BYU has strong ties to the Church, but it does not make doctrine. Most BYU students will treat the honor code as doctrine and believe they are building testimonies by obeying it. After all, it's God's Church. But BYU isn't God's Church. Remember the honor code and BYU are temporary. You'll graduate (or change schools) and no one will ever bother you about the honor code again.
It's hard to keep perspective when you live in a bubble.
I've suspected for years that the HCO has their little sneaks all around the internet. Anywho, I appreciate all the insights. Especially BigRedHammer's. Sometimes it's easy for me to forget that BYU isn't the church. Thanks for the post and all the replies! :D
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